Today In Payments Around The World: India’s Zomato Files For IPO; Netherlands’ MessageBird To Purchase SparkPost

In today’s top payments news around the world, Zomato is going public in India, while MessageBird is acquiring SparkPost in a $600 million deal. Plus, worldwide shipments of smartphones reached 347 million in Q1 2021.

India’s Food Delivery Startup Zomato Files $1.11 Billion IPO

Zomato, the food delivery platform, is going public in India with an estimated $1.1 billion initial public offering (IPO). The upstart filed a draft with market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). Zomato and rival Swiggy control the food delivery sector in the country, which is estimated to be valued at $4.2 billion. Zomato, which is backed by China’s Ant Group, is considered to be one of India’s most successful startups and employs more than 5,000 individuals. Its service is available in 10,000 cities throughout 24 nations.

MessageBird To Acquire SparkPost For $600 Million

Netherlands-based MessageBird, the international omnichannel communications firm, is purchasing email optimization platform SparkPost in a $600 million arrangement that will help MessageBird grow its reach throughout the United States. The deal will add 5 trillion safe business-to-consumer (B2C) email interactions to MessageBird’s system annually, per a release. “The future of communications isn’t siloed — it’s omnichannel,” MessageBird CEO Robert Vis said in a release. “Our acquisition of SparkPost will further strengthen our ability to serve customers through email.”

Global Smartphone Shipments Jump 27 Percent, Canalys Says

Global shipments of smartphones reached 347 million in Q1 2021, marking a 27 percent rise year over year. The results came from a report published on Thursday (April 29) by tech research company Canalys, which discovered that Samsung was the top smartphone maker for the quarter, selling 76.5 million device or 22 percent of the market share. Apple arrived in second with 52.4 million iPhones or a 15 percent share. Rounding out the top five were three Chinese phone manufacturers, with the inclusion of Xiaomi. “In addition to great product value, Xiaomi is now also making strides to recruit local talent, become more channel-friendly and lead in high-end innovation,” Canalys Research Manager Ben Stanton said.